failing in build, checking Python lib dir

[wis1]

In trying to build 3.25 (cwd is gpsd-3.25):

    #scons pps=yes ntpshm=yes

I get the following message:
        
    Checking Python lib dir...
    System PYTHONPATH='/usr/bin/python:/'
    Ensure your PYTHONPATH includes /
    Checking Python config vars...
      File "<unknown>", line 0



        ^

    SyntaxError: unexpected EOF while parsing

    Ensure your PYTHONPATH includes /
    WARNING: AsciiDoctor not found.
    WARNING: Some documentation and html will not be built.
    # printenv PYTHONPATH
    /usr/bin/python:/

'/usr/bin/python' is symlinked to python3.

Note that in the above, PYTHONPATH does include '/', but the same
result occurs if "PYTHONPATH=/usr/bin/python". I added '/' to try
and make 'scons' happy.

While getting here is indicative of a problem of mine, it also seems
to be an issue with the script. Perhaps this error path hasn't been
taken before.

Any ideas on how I can continue?

Thanks,

-wis